SURF FESTIVAL: Alison, Jeff Atkinson win titles in two-mile beach run

Nearly 150 runners of all ages took part in the annual Dick Fitzgerald Two-Mile Run as part of the International Surf Festival at the Hermosa Beach Pier Saturday morning. Husband and wife Jeff and Allison Atkinson were the first man and woman to finish.

The last time this happened, Alison Atkinson ended up with a ring. She didn't seem disappointed to settle for a medal this time.

Atkinson was the top female finisher in Saturday's Dick Fitzgerald Two-Mile Beach Run at the Hermosa Pier, giving the 46-year-old Manhattan Beach resident her first victory in the annual event she's entered several times and completing a first-place sweep for the Atkinson family. With husband Jeff Atkinson repeating as the top overall finisher, the couple claimed titles in the same race for the first time since the day they met.

"We've run a lot of races together," said Jeff Atkinson, the 50-year-old Palos Verdes High cross country and track coach who finished the course on the sand in 13 minutes, 5 seconds. "The only other time we both won was a 5K in Manhattan Beach in the spring of 1997.

"That's how we met."

The retelling of the story drew a sentimental "awww" from the crowd at the awards ceremony.

Then it was back to handing out the hardware, of which Jeff Atkinson has plenty. The 1988 Olympian said he has been entering this event since the 1970s and has won more times than he can remember.

He pulled away from the pack this time about three lifeguard towers before the finish line, edging second-place Jimmy Wills of Redondo by nine seconds.

Alison Atkinson, the only female to finish in less than 16 minutes, finished in 14:51.

"I'm definitely happy," she said. "I was just trying to maintain. I've been practicing on the soft sand and had been running slower than I did today."

The race began at the Hermosa pier with competitors running in soft sand toward the Manhattan Beach pier before turning back for the final mile on the wet, hard-packed sand.

Nearly 150 runners participated in the community event that is a staple of the International Surf Festival. Participants ranged in age from a trio of 7-year-olds to 83-year-old Manhattan Beach resident Dick Windishar, whose 27:03 showing was good for second in the men's 70-plus division.

Ethan Williams, a 15-year-old incoming sophomore at Mira Costa High, finished third overall and first in the men's 15-19 age division at 13:27.

"I'm happy with how I finished," he said. "I just wanted to keep up with the leaders."

Diane Silva (16:09) of Manhattan Beach and Annie Seawright (16:48) of Hermosa Beach rounded out the women's overall top three, with Silva taking first in the women's 50-59 division.

Other age group winners included Redondo 9-year-old Kaya Croft (22:03) in the girls 10-and-under, Gaby Guerrero (17:50) in the girls 11-14, Kristen Quinn (18:05) in the women's 15-19, Andrea York (17:22) in the women's 20-29 and Laura Krueger (18:00) in the women's 30-39. Jacob Less (20:00), a Hermosa 10-year-old, took first in the boys 10-and-under, joining Andrew Costly (14:15) in the boys 11-14, Garrett Hamilton (14:11) in the men's 20-29, Wills (13:14) in the men's 30-39, Dana Staggs (13:35) in the men's 40-49, Roger Davidheiser (19:00) in the men's 60-69 and Barry Paquette (22:30) in the men's 70-plus as division winners.

Hermosa's Laura Cattivera (16:48) finished in the top 30 overall and third in the women's 40-49 division despite running the race backwards because of a muscular disorder that makes it painful to run forward.

"She would have beat me if she ran forward," Alison Atkinson said. "She's really good. She runs that way because of her legs, and this is about having fun."